V2Q 
VOYAGE TO THE 
CHAP, style, and of such dimensions, as to excite our surprise how with their 
y rude instruments it could have been accomplished. The blocks were 
Jail, five feet long by three wide, and one foot thick ; and were placed upon 
their narrow edge in a manner in which we traced a resemblance to the 
walls in Hapae, as described by Captain Cook. Upon this eminence was 
seated a venerable looking person about sixty years of age, with a long 
beard entirely grey ; he had well prqportioned features, and a com- 
manding aspect ; his figure was rather tall, but lassitude and corpulency 
greatly diminished his natural stature ; he was entirely naked except 
a maro, and a crown made from the feathers of the frigate-bird, or black 
tern ; his body was extensively tattooed, and from the loins to the 
ankles he was covered with small lines, which at a distance had the 
appearance of pantaloons. Long nails, and rolls of skin overhanging 
his hips, pointed out his exemption from labour, and an indulgence in 
luxuries which in all probability attached to him in virtue of his birth- 
right. He was introduced to us as an areghe or chief ; he did not rise 
from his seat, but gave the nasal salutation in his squatting posture, 
which in the F riendly Islands is considered a mark of respect. 
An exchange of presents succeeded this meeting. Some scarlet 
cloth, which I had brought on shore for the purpose, was placed over 
his shoulders, and closed by a buckle in front, which delighted the sub- 
jects as much as the chief, who, in return, presented me with his crown, 
and intimated that I should wear it by placing it upon my hat.- This 
friendly understanding 1 endeavoured to turn to our advantage by 
making him understand, as well as I could by signs and Otaheitan 
words, that we would barter articles we had brought with us for fruit 
and vegetables ; and in the hope of this being acceded to, we waited 
longer at the village than we should otherwise have done ; but the only 
answer we got was “ bobo mai,” which from the Otaheitan vocabulary 
we should interpret “ here to-morrow ; ” but its application in the 
Gambier groupe was so various as to leave us much in doubt whether 
they were not disposed to turn our imperfect use of it to their own ad- 
vantage. Our visit to the village brought a great accession to its usual 
inhabitants, and several hundred people had collected about us, but 
